Hookah bar’s owner aims gun at residents

Irked residents complain to BEST Authorities of bar's illegal electricity connection, owner allegedly threatens them with gun, residents write to Home Minister, commissioner

Hookah bar's owner aims gun at residents

Irked residents complain to BEST Authorities of bar's illegal electricity connection, owner allegedly threatens them with gun, residents write to Home Minister, commissioner

The anti-hookah drive in the city seems to have missed this parlour that had been running in Nagpada, causing residents of the building it is housed in a considerable amount of vexation, as they impatiently recount, in the hope that someone will listen to them.

Residents say the patrons of the bar make it impossible for them to sleep

Residents of Husseini building on Peerkhan Street, dismayed with police apathy, have complained to the home minister and police commissioner against Yasin Shaikh, the owner of Qasba, who they say has been threatening them for the past few days.
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Shaikh's bullying, backed by a gun, came after residents complained to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) authorities that he had been stealing electricity to run the parlour. Following that, officials raided the premises twice and fined him close to Rs 7.4 lakh.

"Seeing the negligence of the Nagpada police, we have complained to the home minister and commissioner of police.
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It is a total nuisance in the area," said Leslie Pereira, a social worker who came to the rescue of the residents. She added, "Surprisingly, the police department told us that action against the parlour is not part of their duty."

According to the complaint (copy with MiD DAY), Qasba is proving to be a nuisance to the occupants as patrons of the bar make a lot of noise till late in the night.

Fed up with police apathy, residents sought recourse from Pereira, who then complained to BEST's vigilance department. On January 21, the department raided the parlour and found that it had an illegal electricity connection. The parlour was fined Rs 7,435.

According to an RTI reply (copy available with MiD DAY), a BEST official again raided the parlour on March 11 and found that it had tampered with the meter.

Shaikh was again fined, this time to the tune of Rs 7,33,874 for his extravagant illegal electricity consumption. A case was registered with Nagpada police.

Senior Inspector Sanjay Kadam said, "We have taken action against the parlour. The electricity theft case has been registered in our police station. The parlour is closed."

The Other Side
When MiD DAY called Yasin Shaikh's cell, a man called Rashid Bhai, claiming to be his brother, answered. "Yasin bhai is out of town. He will not be available for comments," he said. "The parlour has been shut for two months. You can talk to the police or tenants," he said.